Outhouse Editor

StoryI thought this was a good introduction to the character for new readers unfamiliar With Static Shock. The writers did a good job of explaining how Static's powers worked and establishing his personal life. They crammed a lot of information into this first issue that it could be somewhat overwhelming. There certainly was a lot of action here as well. I enjoyed the scenes of Static chasing the man in the stolen STAR Labs suit and was surprised to see him shot by assassins. I also liked the villain Piranha at the end. I almost feel the writers should've stretched this first issue into two issues.

ArtI liked the art here. Scott McDaniel did a good job and his style here fit the tine of the book very well. All the characters looked good as did the backgrounds. I think he put a lot of detail into his panels here.

Outhouse Editor

StoryI thought this was a good introduction to the character for new readers unfamiliar With Static Shock. The writers did a good job of explaining how Static's powers worked and establishing his personal life. They crammed a lot of information into this first issue that it could be somewhat overwhelming. There certainly was a lot of action here as well. I enjoyed the scenes of Static chasing the man in the stolen STAR Labs suit and was surprised to see him shot by assassins. I also liked the villain Piranha at the end. I almost feel the writers should've stretched this first issue into two issues.

ArtI liked the art here. Scott McDaniel did a good job and his style here fit the tine of the book very well. All the characters looked good as did the backgrounds. I think he put a lot of detail into his panels here.

Staff Writer

Story - Static is one of the few DC characters I have virtually no experience. I wasn't reading DC in the 1990s so the whole Milestone thing passed me by. I watched the cartoon series, but had no idea it was based on a comic, so it freaked me the hell out when the animated Justice League showed up in the show.

I read one or two of his appearances in Teen (and Terror) Titans, but those comics pretty much all sucked, so really, this new #1 is my first experience of Static Shock. And on the basis of this issue, it's not really for me.

I mean, the issue itself was fine, Rozum and McDaniel's writing does the job of setting up who Virgil Hawkins is and what his current status quo is. But the whole book is just really generic. There's nothing here that 25 other teen superhero titles won't give you, and I'd rather read Invincible or Ultimate Spider-Man or Generation Hope than this. There's nothing new here, I may as well be reading 1970s Spider-Man titles. It's the same city, the same attitude, the same distrust from the public. Hell, I may as well be reading current Spider-Man, as Virgil and Peter Parker are working at similar companies.

There are some interesting things here, like the use of another Milestone hero, Hardware as a mentor for Static, but it's only a small detail. Rozum and McDaniel also come up with some pretty novel uses for Static's powers, such as when he tracks the bullet using UV light. The villains are forgettable, and the mystery at STAR Labs doesn't hook me. I will say that the ending of the issue is a surprise, but I doubt it will stick.

Overall, this was a competently put together comic that just wasn't for me. Maybe if I was a fan of Static from way back, this would thrill me, but as I've never read a Static book before, there was nothing here to interest me. I like teen superheroes as much as anybody, but I like them with a little more spice than this. So yeah, if you like Static, then you'll probably like this, if you don't... probably not.

Art - Scott McDaniel is a pretty polarising artist, some love his blocky style, others hate it. I myself quite like it and think the art in this issue is great. The action flows well and he manages to make quite a busy costume work.

Story - Static is one of the few DC characters I have virtually no experience. I wasn't reading DC in the 1990s so the whole Milestone thing passed me by. I watched the cartoon series, but had no idea it was based on a comic, so it freaked me the hell out when the animated Justice League showed up in the show.

I read one or two of his appearances in Teen (and Terror) Titans, but those comics pretty much all sucked, so really, this new #1 is my first experience of Static Shock. And on the basis of this issue, it's not really for me.

I mean, the issue itself was fine, Rozum and McDaniel's writing does the job of setting up who Virgil Hawkins is and what his current status quo is. But the whole book is just really generic. There's nothing here that 25 other teen superhero titles won't give you, and I'd rather read Invincible or Ultimate Spider-Man or Generation Hope than this. There's nothing new here, I may as well be reading 1970s Spider-Man titles. It's the same city, the same attitude, the same distrust from the public. Hell, I may as well be reading current Spider-Man, as Virgil and Peter Parker are working at similar companies.

There are some interesting things here, like the use of another Milestone hero, Hardware as a mentor for Static, but it's only a small detail. Rozum and McDaniel also come up with some pretty novel uses for Static's powers, such as when he tracks the bullet using UV light. The villains are forgettable, and the mystery at STAR Labs doesn't hook me. I will say that the ending of the issue is a surprise, but I doubt it will stick.

Overall, this was a competently put together comic that just wasn't for me. Maybe if I was a fan of Static from way back, this would thrill me, but as I've never read a Static book before, there was nothing here to interest me. I like teen superheroes as much as anybody, but I like them with a little more spice than this. So yeah, if you like Static, then you'll probably like this, if you don't... probably not.

Art - Scott McDaniel is a pretty polarising artist, some love his blocky style, others hate it. I myself quite like it and think the art in this issue is great. The action flows well and he manages to make quite a busy costume work.

Outhouse Editor

I'll probably be skipping this week. Criminal is one of my Trade books.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Good-bye.."

Rain Partier

I've tried several times to work up a paragraph on this book and it's even more difficult than just finishing the comic was to begin with. What a sorry new debut for this character, whose co-creator passed away tragically earlier this year. This feels like a misfire on all cylinders, from writing that tediously has the character describe his actions in pseudo-science nonsense, possibly because looking at the finished artwork one can barely even guess at what is supposed to be happening during the clunky narration as Static chases Plasma Ball-Guy around his new city leading up to the "shocking" last page reveal--I'm guessing that was a hologram or something.

I can't force myself to say much else about this, one of the weakest new 52 debuts that should've been among the strongest.

Rain Partier

I've tried several times to work up a paragraph on this book and it's even more difficult than just finishing the comic was to begin with. What a sorry new debut for this character, whose co-creator passed away tragically earlier this year. This feels like a misfire on all cylinders, from writing that tediously has the character describe his actions in pseudo-science nonsense, possibly because looking at the finished artwork one can barely even guess at what is supposed to be happening during the clunky narration as Static chases Plasma Ball-Guy around his new city leading up to the "shocking" last page reveal--I'm guessing that was a hologram or something.

I can't force myself to say much else about this, one of the weakest new 52 debuts that should've been among the strongest.

3.5

"Being offended is not to be confused with a state of grace; it’s the occasional price we all pay for living in an open society." -- Ian McEwan

Rain Partier

Honestly, I can't believe I have a new Static book in my hand. It's been so damn long and I truly hope it stays afloat. We need more books like this.

I had a lot of fun with it for sure. It wasn't one of the greatest ever, but to be back into the mind of Virgil, even explaining his next thoughts and abilities was just too awesome not to love. I'm very excited that Hardware is a part of this book. He was my favorite when McDuffie brought Milestone back into the DCU and always hoped to see more of him. I thought the explanation for his move to NYC was pretty legit and made sense. Though the one issue I have with that is: now that Virgil, a black kid with dreadlocks, moves from Dakota to NYC, no one, not even his family, would be suspicious that Static, another black kid with dreadlocks, from Dakota, is also in NYC? Or how about people back home? Virgil and Static leave Dakota the same time and so forth?

The voice of Virgil felt like a return to home and meeting up with an old friend who never lost his charm. Is it as I fully remember it when McDuffie was writing the character? Surely no, but McDaniels and Rozum do capture the overall essence of the character and I can't wait to see what they come up with as the series goes on. While in interviews, it's been said there won't be a connection to the cartoon series, but Ebon would be great to have as a foil in the comics (wink nudge to the creators if they're reading this).

Rain Partier

Honestly, I can't believe I have a new Static book in my hand. It's been so damn long and I truly hope it stays afloat. We need more books like this.

I had a lot of fun with it for sure. It wasn't one of the greatest ever, but to be back into the mind of Virgil, even explaining his next thoughts and abilities was just too awesome not to love. I'm very excited that Hardware is a part of this book. He was my favorite when McDuffie brought Milestone back into the DCU and always hoped to see more of him. I thought the explanation for his move to NYC was pretty legit and made sense. Though the one issue I have with that is: now that Virgil, a black kid with dreadlocks, moves from Dakota to NYC, no one, not even his family, would be suspicious that Static, another black kid with dreadlocks, from Dakota, is also in NYC? Or how about people back home? Virgil and Static leave Dakota the same time and so forth?

The voice of Virgil felt like a return to home and meeting up with an old friend who never lost his charm. Is it as I fully remember it when McDuffie was writing the character? Surely no, but McDaniels and Rozum do capture the overall essence of the character and I can't wait to see what they come up with as the series goes on. While in interviews, it's been said there won't be a connection to the cartoon series, but Ebon would be great to have as a foil in the comics (wink nudge to the creators if they're reading this).